The Rise of the Mongols Nomadism - 1000 CE way of life forced by scarcity of resources pastures, water slavery and tribute traits superb horsemen shooting arrows alliance building spread of religious ideas Shamanism iron bridles, stirrups, wagons, bridges
Mongol Conquests Genghis Khan - 1206-1227 Temujin Ogodei C. Asia, Middle East, Russia Tribute Ogodei Northern China 1241 Reasons for Success horsemanship; superior bows flaming arrows; catapults threat of slaughter inclusive armies
Mongol Empire
Overland Trade Textile Manufacture silk Mongol trade route control westward expansion Eastern motifs to West Mongol trade route control merchants, missionaries political ambassadors paisa travel literature insights to Eurasia Marco Polo ambition for Asian routes image of inexhaustible wealth plague great pandemic (1347-1352)
Centralization in Europe and Anatolia Trade Routes replace terror with awe inexhaustible wealth Technology gunpowder; coal mining metallurgy; bronze cannons mathematics; diplomatic passports Negatives plunder of the countryside spread of the plague
Mongol Conquests in E. Eurasia Yuan Empire 1279 CE Khubilai Khan Korea SE Asian limit Chinese Traditions Confucian conventions Beijing Caravan route capital Grand Palace The Forbidden City Shangdu Marco Polo
The Yuan Empire, 1279-1368 Unification of China Social System Yellow River (North) Yangzi River (South) Social System Mongols C. Asians / Middle East N. Chinese S. Chinese Confucians vs. merchants Economy Urban Cities prospered Opening to outside Elites to commerce / cities Rural Destruction of agriculture Staple crop dependence Population decrease Warfare; flooding Bubonic plague; infanticide